That’s an incredibly solid mix of established headliners (Paisley, Keith and Rascal Flatts) and rising stars (Sugarland, Aldean and Lambert). In particular, it’s great to see the return of Aldean, the blistering hot vocalist who sold out his Shoreline gig last year.

Ticket packages go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday through www.livenation.com. Prices range from $699 for the VIP package (which includes tickets to all shows in the lower level) to $149 (lawn ducats). If you don’t want to buy into the whole Megaticket experience, you can wait and purchase individual show tickets at a later (yet unannounced) date.

Casey Abrams will live to howl and growl for at least another week on “American Idol.”

Abrams, the intense 20-year-old from Southern California, was this week’s lowest vote-getter, but he won’t be leaving the show because the judges used their one and only “save” of the season to keep him in the competition.

“This is crazy wrong,” declared Steven Tyler of the fan vote before delivering the good news to Casey, who was overcome with emotion.

“Are you kidding?” the singer asked. “I can’t believe it.”

What this means is that all 11 remaining finalists will be on the “Idol” summer tour, which is usually limited to 10. The bad news? Two contestants will be sent packing next week — with no hope of being saved by the judges.

Viewers knew they were in for a suspenseful night when host Ryan Seacrest told the audience early on that the vote result “may shock you.” Abrams had been tabbed as an early “Idol” early favorite, but he wound up in the Bottom 3 for the first time, along with Thia Megia and Stefano Langone.

The fan vote might have been a message to Casey that it’s time to cut down on the guttural growling and get back to actual singing — a message that the judges reiterated.

“Let people feel your soul,” urged Jennifer Lopez.

Both the judges and contestants registered looks of shock when Casey’s name was called by Seacrest. But Casey was only a few bars into what could have been his swan song when the judges interrupted to announce their decision to keep him around.

All the drama capped off an action-packed show that featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Sugarland and Jennifer Hudson.

So what did you think of Thursday’s results show? Did the judges make the right decision to use the save? Or do you think Casey should have been sent packing?

I’m hearing from lots of you who were disappointed in Sugarland’s failure to show up for the big Kenny Chesney show at AT&T Park on Saturday. (The band also cancelled a scheduled appearance with Keith Urban at L.A.’s Staples Center on Sunday.)

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush posted an apology/explanation this morning on YouTube: “Long story short, I’ve been dealing with some stuff since January that has put me behind vocally, off and on,” Nettles says, “and I went into the studio, between being out on the road, and I sang too much, and I blew my voice.”

Folks arriving Saturday for the big country show at San Francisco’s AT&T Park were greeted with a sign saying Sugarland — No. 2 on the bill behind Kenny Chesney — would not be performing because singer Jennifer Nettles had lost her voice in the recording studio. (What?! Did she forget she had a gig on Saturday night?! Did she not know 40,000 people had bought tickets expecting to hear her sing? Couldn’t she have declined that seventh take?)

The sign offered refunds but also stated that Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and Chesney would play longer sets to make up for the absence. In actuality? Not so much. Chesney just pulled out his standard 90-minute set, and the whole evening was over by 10:40. Though the set was thoroughly professional and technically accomplished, and packed with familiar singalong hits — generally about partying, rose-colored nostalgia, the beach, or some combination thereof — it certainly lacked the sense of an event that last summer’s installment had, when Chesney was joined onstage by Sammy Hagar and Steve Miller. There wasn’t much magic. Continue Reading →

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) â€” Kenny Chesney won his fourth entertainer of the year award and George Strait became the most-honored artist in CMA Awards history at Wednesday’s ceremony, a show highlighted by a lavish performance by Taylor Swift, a surprise appearance by rapper Lil Wayne, and the return of one of country’s biggest stars, Shania Twain.

“You look really good,” Chesney remarked to Twain, who wore a sexy, low-cut dress as she presented Chesney with his award. Twain is one of country’s best-selling artists, but has spent the last several years out of the spotlight. She hadn’t been on the show in four years.Continue Reading →